Page 242 - Showsight April 2013

may be better constructed). The color and patterns are sec-
ondary to the overall conformation and type of the dogs.
In both sexes there is a 6cm (about 2") variation between
the preferred lower and upper size, and an overlap between
the genders, the ideal height for males is 49cm (19½") and
for females, 44cm (17½") with a tolerance of ±3 cm, but it
is crucial to remember that type is more important than
the size. Also, judges should be wary of measuring dogs
in their mind and perceiving that the dog that stands tall-
er and smaller in the ring is the wrong one—unless you
measure accurately using a calibrated stick, its hard to be
accurate, as the size of coat and bone can help create a
misleading picture.
Bio
Toni Jackson has owned Finnish Lapphunds since 1992
and has bred the first two champions in the breed in the UK,
she is the only UK breeder/judge to have judged the breed in
Finland to award CACs, and has also judged in Norway &
Denmark. In the UK she was the first judge to award CCs to
the breed at Crufts 2011.
In addition she is the author of the Finnish Lapphund
(Comprehensive Owner’s Guide) handbook. A regular visi-
tor to Finland she has imported 6 Finnish dogs to UK and
mated 4 bitches abroad. In addition to the Finnish Lap-
phund she also awards CCs to three other pastoral breeds
in UK.
242 • ShowSight Magazine, April 2013